Medical Device Clamp

ABSTRACT

A medical instrument device interconnection system decreases the vibrational effects on a hospital pole. The medical device is contained in a case and the case has a first clamping member, a first biasing apparatus, a second clamping member, a second biasing apparatus, and a pole receiving trench. Each clamping member has a preferred position, an attachment position and a maximum tension position. In the preferred position the respective biasing members position the respective clamping member&#39;s distal end as close to each other as possible which inhibits a conventional hospital pole from entering the pole receiving trench. To obtain the maximum tension position, the person positioning the medical instrument device on the hospital pole aligns the pole receiving trench with the hospital pole so the hospital pole contacts the clamping members&#39; exterior surface in the preferred position. The person raises the device in relation to the pole which causes the clamping members to rotate and expose the pole receiving trench. Once the hospital pole enters the pole receiving trench the respective biasing apparatus on each clamping member has the respective clamping members revert toward the preferred position. The preferred position cannot be obtained because the hospital pole in the pole receiving trench inhibits the clamping members from reverting to that position. Instead the clamping members are in the attachment position after the medical instrument device is lowered a little in relation to the hospital pole to obtain the maximum force in the attachment position. Collectively the biasing apparatuses through the clamping members in the attachment position provide more force to the hospital pole than the weight of the medical instrument device. That way the medical instrument device remains attached to the hospital pole and due to the flexible biasing apparatuses the device&#39;s vibration is suppressed while attached to the hospital pole.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/928,549; filed on May 10, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to clamps and more specifically to clamps usedwith medical instrument devices to be attached to hospital poles, whichare sometimes referred to as IV poles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hospital Pole Clamps Currently Used

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,207; Danby succinctly wrote, “Prior clamps [usedto attach a medical instrument device to a hospital pole] comprise aknob or handwheel which serves to drive a threaded shaft against a poleso as to provide, in conjunction with a pole gripping anvil, a frictionconnection between the pole and the pump. Modifications of this basicidea have been to use scissors or a lever to multiply the force appliedby the threaded shaft to the pole or gripped member so as to improve themechanical qualities of the clamp.

Prior clamps, however, suffer from the same flaw. These clamps requirean equal amount of force to be applied to remove the clamp as wasrequired to affix the clamp to the gripped member. In a hospitalsetting, wherein orderlies and nurses share the responsibilities ofplacing and removing pumps, this flaw comes to the fore. For example,consider the situation where an orderly affixes a pump to a pole. At atime subsequent to this installation, another person, having lessstrength than the orderly, wishes to remove the pump. However, tosatisfy himself that the pump was firmly affixed to the pole, theorderly applied a great deal of torque to the knob. Since torque equalsforce times distance, the person wishing to remove the pump must supplyat least as much force to the knob as the orderly did when installingthe pump. For a more lightly muscled person this task may prove to bedaunting or impossible.

This difficulty, repeated over and over, has an effect on the efficiencyof the staff as well as providing a source of additional wear on theequipment, as tools are commonly employed to loosen these clamps.”

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,106; Rasmussen wrote, “A quick attach/releasepole clamp is mounted on the side of a medical instrument case. Astationary clamp member is secured to the case and a movable clampmember slides in a slot oriented at a slight acute angle to thevertical, so that it moves toward and away from the stationary clampmember as it moves up and down the slot. A spring biases the movableclamp member toward the top of the slot so that the clamp is moved tothe closed position. The user may support the instrument case in twohands while depressing the sliding clamp member to permit the clampmembers to be positioned around a pole. When the pressure is released,the spring causes the clamp to close on the pole. A camming leverpermits the user to provide positive latching of the clamp member frommovement, and to engage an anti-rotation element with the pole. Aninterlock prohibits activation of the camming lever while the movableclamp member is being depressed.”

Rasmussen further confirms Danby's interpretation of clamps used toattach medical instrument devices on IV poles, when he wrote, “In thehospital environment, it is often necessary to provide medicalinstrumentation at the patient bedside. Many surgical patients, forexample, are provided at least on a temporary basis with an intravenousfluid delivery setup for infusion of fluids to prevent dehydration, topreserve electrolyte balance, or to deliver antibiotics and othermedication. Frequently, intravenous delivery is provided by a fluidinfusion pump or a gravity controller, both of which areelectro-mechanical instrumentation which must be situated near thepatient.

Typically, the instrument cases of these and other instrumentation usedin patient care are provided with clamps for engaging a portable pole sothat the instrumentation may be secured on such a pole. The typical poleclamp is located on the back of the instrument case, and is activated byturning a threaded clamping member to close the clamp on the pole. Tocarry out this securement step, the nurse or other user must support theinstrument case with one hand, while turning the clamp knob with theother hand to effect closure. Removal of the instrument likewiserequires that the instrument be supported by one hand during the step ofunscrewing the clamping knob to free the instrument from the pole. Whilesuch clamping arrangements have been in use for many years, they can beawkward and time-consuming to utilize.”

The medical instruments described and alluded to in the above-identifiedpatents are small, essentially non-vibrational medical instruments.Examples of small, essentially non-vibrational medical instrumentsinclude and are not limited to a fluid warmer, a fluid infusion pump ora gravity controller. Those medical devices do not visibly vibrate orvibrate the hospital pole. Due to the lack of vibration, securing themedical instruments by a threaded shaft/gripping anvil embodiment, or astationary/movable clamps embodiment is acceptable. It is known that thethreaded shaft/gripping anvil embodiment and a stationary/movable clampsembodiment transfer any vibrational energy from the medical device tothe hospital pole. Transferring vibrational energy to the hospital polecan be deleterious for reasons set forth below.

Example of Vibrational Medical Devices

Gaymar Industries, Inc. is the assignee of the present application, andhas been manufacturing, selling and offering to sell inflatable blanketsfor a number of years. On Jun. 8, 1999, Circuit Judge Rader wrote acourt decision that described Gaymar's thermal blankets. That decisioncan be found at 181 F.3d 1291, 1304, 50 USPQ2d 1900, 1909 (Fed. Cir.1999) and it clearly describes the differences between Gaymar's thermalblanket and at least one competitor's. In his outstanding decision, hewrote, “Convective thermal blankets inflate to direct warm (or cool) aironto a person. Surgeons often use these blankets during and after anoperation to prevent or treat hypothermia caused by surgical conditions.Hypothermia results when a patient's body temperature drops below acertain threshold. Surgery often presents the threat of hypothermia. Apatient's body temperature may drop significantly during surgery becauseanesthesia prevents the patient's body from regulating its owntemperature. Additionally, operating rooms—kept cool to accommodate thesurgeon's working conditions and to reduce the spread of germs—can chillpatients. Moreover, surgery often calls for administration of coolintravenous fluids at a time when the patient's body cavity is open.

A convective thermal blanket over the patient is thus necessary toprevent or treat hypothermia during and after surgery. Heated air from awarming unit inflates the blanket. Once inflated, the blanket directsheated air onto the patient through small holes (or “exit ports”) in theundersurface of the blanket. With careful use, a convective blanketregulates patient temperature and prevents hypothermia”[, or in somecases hyperthermia.

Gaymar has been manufacturing such blankets] that feature an inflatablequilt-like structure. These blankets attach two sheets of the sameamount of flexible, lightweight material around their periphery and atvarious spots along their surfaces [sometimes referred to as welds orspot welds depending on the shape of the attachment]. In operation,heated air flows onto a patient's body from holes in the undersurface ofthe blanket, and the blankets do not form a self-supporting or Quonsethut-like structure. Instead, [Gaymar's] blankets lie flat when inflatedon a flat surface and rest substantially on a patient when in use.”(Bracketed material is added or substitutes terms to make it relevantfor this application.)

The convective blankets are inflated through Gaymar's Thermacareconvective blowers. The Thermacare convective blower provides effectivepatient warming adaptable to a variety of procedures. The blowerfeatures a lightweight, portable, warm-air blower unit offering threetemperature settings for the operating room/intensive care unit and fourfor the post anesthesia care unit. The blower also has a flexible,covered hose that is lightweight and easy to clean, and attaches easilyand securely. The blowers are within a case that can be mounted on an IVpole by conventional threaded shaft/gripping anvil embodiment or astationary/movable clamps embodiment, foot end of bed or on a portablestand. When the blowers are interconnected to the hospital poles throughthe conventional attachment embodiments, the blowers vibrate thehospital pole.

A Conventional Mop/Broom Holder

A conventional mop/broom holder is disclosed at www.acemart.com. Theholder is constructed of steel with a single rubber cam and grips broomhandles from ⅞ inch to 1¼ inches in diameter. The steel material is Ushaped—a base, a left extension and a right extension. The single rubbercam is positioned on the base. In the embodiment illustrated atwww.acemart.com, there is a handle opening between the single rubber camand the left extension—obviously the opening can be positioned betweenthe cam and right extension but it depends on the cam's orientation. Inany case, the advertisement asserts using the single rubber cam andU-shaped steel member is easy. Simply push a handle up and into theopening and the rubber cam will adjust and hold the handle in place. Toremove the handle, just push up and out with the handle. This singlespring loaded cam device is used to secure broom handles or othernon-medical devices to walls.

The mop/broom holder is a single rubber cam and U-shaped steel memberthat allows a broom or mop to be hung on a wall. There is no concernabout vibration because the mops/brooms and the wall are stationary anddo not vibrate. That means the conventional mop/broom holder does nothave to be designed to control or minimize vibration, which the presentinvention must address.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a medical instrument device not attached to ahospital pole.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of FIG. 1 attached to a hospital pole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a medical instrumentdevice having a case. The case has a first clamping member, a firstbiasing apparatus, a second clamping member, a second biasing apparatus,and a pole receiving trench. Each clamping member has a preferredposition, an attachment position and a maximum tension position. In thepreferred position the respective biasing members position therespective clamping member's distal end as close to each other aspossible which inhibits a conventional hospital pole from entering thepole receiving trench. To obtain the maximum tension position, theperson positioning the medical instrument device on the hospital polealigns the pole receiving trench with the hospital pole so the hospitalpole contacts the clamping members' exterior surface in the preferredposition. The person raises the device in relation to the pole whichcauses the clamping members to rotate and expose the pole receivingtrench. Once the hospital pole enters the pole receiving trench therespective biasing apparatus on each clamping member has the respectiveclamping members revert toward the preferred position. The preferredposition cannot be obtained because the hospital pole in the polereceiving trench inhibits the clamping members from reverting to thatposition. Instead the clamping members are in the attachment positionafter the medical instrument device is lowered a little in relation tothe hospital pole to obtain the maximum force in the attachmentposition. Collectively the biasing apparatuses through the clampingmembers in the attachment position provide more force to the hospitalpole than the weight of the medical instrument device. That way themedical instrument device remains attached to the hospital pole. Thereis no actuatutor to depress to secure the medical instrument device to ahospital pole. There is no knob or hand wheel to adjust to secure themedical instrument device to the hospital pole. Releasing the medicalinstrument device from the hospital pole is accomplished by reversingthe attachment process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A medical instrument device case 10 with a quick attach/release poleclamp system 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Instrument case 10 may house any medicalinstrument typically utilized in a hospital environment. For example,instrument case 10 may contain an intravenous fluid pump, an intravenousfluid gravity controller, an intravenous fluid temperature controller, ablower for a convective blanket or other medical instrument which maydesirably be placed adjacent a patient's bed by securement on a portableor permanent hospital pole 14.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 10 encloses a blower for a convectiveblanket. As described above, convective blowers do vibrate which canpose problems if other medical objects are positioned on the hospitalpole 14. An object of the present invention is to decrease suchvibration applied to the hospital pole 14.

Instrument case 10 is provided with a main body portion 16 having a rearside 18 and a front side (not shown). Main body portion 16 has a handle19 on its side for the person positioning the medical instrument on thehospital pole 14 to easily align, raise and lower the medical instrumentin relation to the pole. The front side may typically accommodate themechanical interface for the medical instrument device within the case10 and may provide user controls, displays and outputs. For thisinvention, those controls for operating the medical device are not thesubject of the present invention.

The rear side 18 has the clamp system 12 and a pole receiving/alignmenttrench 30. The pole receiving/alignment trench 30 is the portion of therear side 18 that receives the hospital pole 14. Preferably, the polereceiving/alignment trench 30 does not extend along the entire rear side18.

In a preferred embodiment, the pole receiving/alignment trench 30 isdivided into at least two distinct, spaced and separate areas. The firsttrench area 30 a is near or at the top 32 of the case 10. The secondtrench area 30 b is near or at the bottom 34 of the case 10. The areabetween the first and second trench areas 30 a,b on the rear side 18 isan indented and/or concave area that does not contact the pole 14. Thisindented/concave area is desired to decrease the contact surface area ofthe medical instrument device to the hospital pole 14. The decreasedcontact surface area can decrease the vibration effects on to thehospital pole 14 that are created when the medical device operates.

Vibrating the hospital pole is undesired. Vibration caused by themedical device upon the hospital pole 14 could create adverse effects toother medical devices on the hospital pole. For example and not limited,vibration could adversely effect the administration and dosage ofmedication delivered to a patient. If a patient is receiving medicineintravenously, the patient is normally receiving the medicine through abag. That bag is positioned on the hospital pole 14 and the bag isinterconnected to the patient through an IV line. The amount of medicinethat traverses through the IV line is controlled by a valve like device.Obviously, if the valve is vibrated, the valve may be adjusted andresult in the misadministration of medicine, which could be deleterious.That means vibration on a hospital pole 14 is to be kept to a minimum toinhibit such adverse effects.

The current interconnection system decreases the vibrational effects onhospital poles 14, which is not possible with the current hospital poleclamping systems.

The present invention's clamp system 12 has a first clamp member 12 aand a second clamp member 12 b. Both clamp members are identical excepteach clamp member 12 a,b is positioned on opposite sides of the firsttrench area 30 a. The clamping members 12 a,b are also positioned toconfront each other.

Each clamping member 12 a,b has a biasing apparatus (only the biasingpivot point 50 is shown), and an engagement portion 40—sometimescollectively referred to as a spring loaded cam device. Each biasingapparatus 50 urges the respective engagement member 40 of clampingmembers 12 a,b toward the other engagement member 40. That position isreferred to as the preferred position. In the preferred position,biasing apparatus positions the engagement portion 40 of each clampingmember 12 a,b to inhibit the hospital pole 14 from entering into thepole receiving/alignment trench 30.

The engagement members 40 of clamping members 12 a,b do not contact eachother as illustrated in FIG. 1—and this is the preferred embodiment. Inalternative embodiments the clamping members 12 a,b may contact eachother in the preferred position. If the clamping members 12 a,b docontact each other, the contact should minimally contact each other.Whichever embodiment is utilized, the engagement members 40 extendtoward each other in the preferred position.

The engagement member 40 has a receiving exterior surface 42 and anattachment exterior surface 44. The receiving exterior surface 42 isdesigned to allow a hospital pole 14 to be positioned against it priorto entering the entire first trench area 30 a. When the hospital pole 14is positioned against the receiving exterior surface 42, a person raisesthe case 10 in relation to the pole 14. While the case 10 is beingraised in relation to the pole 14, each engagement portion 40 ofclamping members 12 a,b rotates about the biasing pivot point 50 towardthe case's bottom 34.

When the receiving exterior surface 42 rotates toward the bottom 34, thereceiving exterior surface 42 eventually does not inhibit the firsttrench area 30 a from receiving the hospital pole 14. That position isreferred to as the maximum tension position because the biasingapparatus is attempting to have the engagement portion revert to thepreferred position as soon as possible.

The hospital pole 14 enters the first trench area 30 a while theengagement portions 40 are in the maximum tension position and thesecond trench area 30 b. While the engagement members are in the maximumtension position, the respective biasing apparatus of clamping members12 a,b attempt to revert the respective engagement member toward thepreferred position. The engagement members are unable to revert to thepreferred position because the pole 14 inhibits that reversion. Insteadthe engagement members are positioned at the attachment position. Theattachment position is obtained when the biasing apparatus attempts torevert the engagement members to the preferred position but theattachment exterior surface 44 contacts the hospital pole 14 and appliessufficient pressure to the hospital pole 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2,to secure the case 10 and the corresponding medical instrument device tothe hospital pole 14.

In one embodiment, the attachment exterior surface 44 has a plurality ofribs 45. The ribs increase the number of distinct areas that theattachment exterior surface 44 contacts the hospital pole 14. Theincreased contact areas decrease the chance of the attachment exteriorsurface 44 losing contact with the hospital pole 14.

To further increase the attachment capabilities of the attachmentexterior surface 44 to the hospital pole 14, the hospital pole can havecircumferential bands of rubber 87 that grip the pole 14 at the locationof where the attachment exterior surface 44 is supposed to contact thehospital pole 14. The circumferential bands of rubber 87 can also belocated on the pole area that contacts the second trench area 30 b. Thecircumferential bands of rubber 87 increase the attachment properties ofthe attachment exterior surface 44 and the hospital pole 14.

The biasing apparatus applies a force to the hospital pole 14 throughthe attachment exterior surface 44 that is equal to or preferablygreater than the gravitational force applied to the case 10 and thecorresponding medical instrument device. By default the case 10 islowered (preferably slightly) in relation to the hospital pole 14 toensure the biasing apparatus through the attachment exterior surface 44applies the maximum force against the hospital pole 14. To obtain themaximum force, the engagement member 40 is made of a material thatretains its overall shape, like a hard polymeric material, andsimultaneously has a portion of the engagement member reversibly conformto a portion of the hospital pole, a.k.a., IV pole, shape.

Removing the case 10 from the hospital pole 14 is just the reverseprocess for attaching the case 10 to the hospital pole 14. When releasedfrom the pole, the engagement member 40 reverts to its original shape.

When used, the hospital pole is positioned near a support surface thatcontains a patient. The support surface can be a hospital bed, anoperating table, a wheelchair or any device that a patient is positionedthereon.

The clamp system 12 also decreases the medical device's vibrationaleffects on the hospital pole. The clamp system 12 through the engagementmembers and the corresponding biasing apparatuses allows the medicaldevice to have minimal movement without detaching from the hospital poleand simultaneously absorb some of the vibrational effect that should betransferred to the hospital pole. Since the clamp system absorbs atleast a portion of the vibrational effect, the clamp system decreasesthe device's vibrational effect on the hospital pole 14

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to aspecific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various changesand modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it isintended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A medical instrument device comprising: a medical instrument tobenefit a patient positioned on a support surface and the medicalinstrument is contained in a case; the case having at least one surfacehaving a hospital pole trench area and a clamping system; the clampingsystem has a first clamping member, a first biasing apparatus, a secondclamping member, and a second biasing apparatus affixed to the case; thefirst clamping member is positioned on a first side of the hospital poletrench area and the second clamping member is positioned on a secondside of the hospital pole trench area, and the first clamping member andthe second clamping member are opposed to each other; the first biasingapparatus positions the first clamping member into a first preferredposition and the second biasing apparatus positions the second clampingmember into a second preferred position, the first preferred positionand the second preferred position inhibit a hospital pole from enteringthe hospital pole trench area; the hospital pole enters the hospitalpole trench area by (A) positioning the hospital pole to (i) align withthe hospital pole trench area, and (ii) contact the first clampingmember and the second clamping member, (B) raising and pushing themedical instrument device in relation to and against the pole so thepole allows the first clamping member and the second clamping member torotate until the hospital pole trench area is exposed, (C) sliding thehospital pole into the hospital pole trench area which results in thefirst and second biasing apparatuses to urge respectively the firstclamping member and the second clamping member toward the respectivefirst and second preferred positions, and (D) lowering the medicalinstrument device on the hospital pole to obtain (i) a maximum contactbetween (a) the first clamping member and the hospital pole and (b) thesecond clamping member and the hospital pole, and (ii) a maximum forcefrom (a) the first biasing apparatus through the first clamping memberto the hospital pole and (b) the second biasing apparatus through thesecond clamping member to the hospital pole; wherein the maximum forceis greater than the weight of the medical instrument device.
 2. Themedical instrument device of claim 1 wherein the first clamping memberand the second clamping member have polymeric exterior surfaces.
 3. Themedical instrument device of claim 1 wherein the first clamping memberand the second clamping member have ribs on the exterior surfaces. 4.The medical instrument device of claim 1 wherein the clamping member hasa receiving exterior surface and an attachment exterior surface, whereinthe receiving exterior surface is the surface that the hospital polecontacts in step (A) and moves in step (B) and the attachment exteriorsurface is the surface that the hospital pole contacts in step (D). 5.The medical instrument device of claim 1 wherein the medical instrumentdevice is selected from the group consisting of an intravenous fluidpump, an intravenous fluid gravity controller, an intravenous fluidtemperature controller, a blower for a conductive blanket, and a blowerfor a convective blanket.
 6. The medical instrument device of claim 1wherein the hospital pole trench area is divided into a first trencharea and a second trench area and the first trench area is separatedfrom the second trench area by an area that does not contact thehospital pole when the hospital pole is positioned in the hospital poletrench area.
 7. The medical instrument device of claim 6 wherein thefirst clamping member and the second clamping member are positioned atthe first trench area.
 8. The medical instrument device of claim 1wherein the hospital pole has circumferential bands of rubber where thefirst clamping member and the second clamping member contact thehospital pole.
 9. The medical instrument device of claim 7 wherein thehospital pole has circumferential bands of rubber where the secondtrench area contacts the hospital pole.
 10. A medical blower comprising:a medical blower that pushes a fluid having a predetermined temperatureinto a cavity of a blanket positioned over or under a patient and theblower has an exterior surface; the blower's exterior surface has ahospital pole trench area and a clamping system; the clamping system hasa first clamping member, a first biasing apparatus, a second clampingmember, and a second biasing apparatus affixed to the blower's exteriorsurface; the first clamping member is positioned on a first side of thehospital pole trench area and the second clamping member is positionedon a second side of the hospital pole trench area, and the firstclamping member and the second clamping member are opposed to eachother; the first biasing apparatus positions the first clamping memberinto a first preferred position and the second biasing apparatuspositions the second clamping member into a second preferred position,the first preferred position and the second preferred position inhibit ahospital pole from entering the hospital pole trench area; the hospitalpole enters the hospital pole trench area by (A) positioning thehospital pole to (i) align with the hospital pole trench area, and (ii)contact the first clamping member and the second clamping member, (B)raising and pushing the medical instrument device in relation to andagainst the pole so the pole allows the first clamping member and thesecond clamping member to rotate until the hospital pole trench area isexposed, (C) sliding the hospital pole into the hospital pole trencharea which results in the first and second biasing apparatuses to urgerespectively the first clamping member and the second clamping membertoward the respective first and second preferred positions, and (D)lowering the blower on the hospital pole to obtain (i) a maximum contactbetween (a) the first clamping member and the hospital pole and (b) thesecond clamping member and the hospital pole, and (ii) a maximum forcefrom (a) the first biasing apparatus through the first clamping memberto the hospital pole and (b) the second biasing apparatus through thesecond clamping member to the hospital pole; wherein the maximum forceis greater than the weight of the blower.
 11. The medical blower ofclaim 10 wherein the first clamping member and the second clampingmember have polymeric exterior surfaces.
 12. The medical blower of claim10 wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member haveribs on the exterior surfaces.
 13. The medical blower of claim 10wherein the clamping member has a receiving exterior surface and anattachment exterior surface, wherein the receiving exterior surface isthe surface that the hospital pole contacts in step (A) and moves instep (B) and the attachment exterior surface is the surface that thehospital pole contacts in step (D).
 14. The medical blower of claim 10wherein the blanket is a convective blanket.
 15. The medical blower ofclaim 10 wherein the blanket is a conductive blanket.
 16. The medicalblower of claim 10 wherein the fluid is air.
 17. The medical blower ofclaim 10 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
 18. The medical blower of claim10 wherein the hospital pole trench area is divided into a first trencharea and a second trench area and the first trench area is separatedfrom the second trench area by an area that does not contact thehospital pole when the hospital pole is positioned in the hospital poletrench area.
 19. The medical blower of claim 18 wherein the firstclamping member and the second clamping member are positioned at thefirst trench area.
 20. The medical blower of claim 10 wherein thehospital pole has circumferential bands of rubber where the firstclamping member and the second clamping member contact the hospitalpole.
 21. The medical blower of claim 19 wherein the hospital pole hascircumferential bands of rubber where the second trench area contactsthe hospital pole.